Citation

Status Report 2017; 52(4).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article reports on findings from a new Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) study that analyzed the impact of legalizing recreational marijuana on collision claim frequencies in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. The study showed that collision claim frequencies are 3% higher than would have been expected without legalization. HLDI conducted a combined analysis using neighboring states as additional controls to examine the collision claims experience of Colorado, Oregon and Washington before and after law changes. Control states included Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming (although Nevada and Montana permitted medical use of marijuana). Collision coverage insures against physical damage to a driver's vehicle in a crash with an object or other vehicle, generally when the driver is at fault. Collision claim frequency is determined by the number of collision claims divided by the number of insured vehicle years (one vehicle insured for one year or two vehicles insured for six months each). The author discusses the increases in individual states, noting that increases were seen up to 14% higher in some individual states with legal recreational marijuana. Another section considers the economics of marijuana legalization, including the impact on tourism. The author also focuses on the lack of data on marijuana use and crashes and even on the physiology of how marijuana may or may not impair a driver. Readers are referred to a previous study that reported on the difficulties of linking marijuana use and crashes.


Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving

Keywords

Colorado; Drunk driving; Laws and legislation; Driver performance; Crash causes; Washington (State); Oregon; Insurance claims; Impaired drivers; Collision insurance; Liability insurance; Marijuana